Piano.



No. 649,|74. Patented May 8, i900. L. W. NORCROSS.

P l A N 0 (Application led Sept, 7, 1899.)

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No. 649,I74. Patented May 8, |900.

L. W. NORCBOSS.

PIANO.

(Application led Sept. '7, 1899.)

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No. 649,I74. Patented May 8, i900.

L. W. NORCROSS.

PIANO.

(Application led Sept. 7, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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km Ig! lllli' am" I UNITED STATES PATENT Genion..

tnvr wA'rsoN Nononoss, on PARIS, TEXAS;

PIANO;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,174, dated May s,1900'.

Application tiled September?, 1899. Serial No. 729,764. (No model.

,To all whom, it may conceive.'

Be it known that I, LEvI WATSON NOR- CROSS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Paris, in the county of Lamar and State of Texas,have invented a new and useful Piano, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to pianosin general, and more particularly tothat style known as upright pianos, although numerous fea- .tures of theconstruction might be applied to the square piano; and the object of theinvention is, iirst, to provide a construction of casein which warpingof the sides and fingerboard support will be prevented, in whichconvenient racks for holding music in use may be provided, in which themusic to be used may be continuously arranged, so as to be readilyaccessible,and in which the sounding-board and string-carrying frame maybe readily inserted and removed and may be held iirmly in place.

A second object of the invention is to produce a string-supporting framein which the strings will he held against slipping, in which a greaterpercentage of the strings may be comprised in thev overstringing, and inwhich the pinblocks for the tuning-pins may be readily applied andremoved. A,

A third object of the invention is to provide means for varying thetension of the keys to better exercise the lingers of a student or tocompensate vfor the excessive strength of touch of the musician.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide a system of pedals whichmay be manipulated to operate the tension apparatus, to move thedampers, and to open and close a portion of the casing to increase theloudness or diminish it.

An additional object of the invention is to provide adjustable means forenablinga child to operate the pedals and for moving this operatingmechanism out of the way when desired.

Other objects of the invention will be evident from the followingdescription.

In the drawings forming a part of this specication, and in which likeletters and n umerals of reference indicate similaiparts in the severalviews, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the complete instrumentwith the tion.

keyboardecover raised and the swin ging front in position to receivethemusic. It further shows the location and arrangement of the means forpermitting a child operating the pedals. Fig. 2 is a detail frontelevation of a portion of the front of the instrument be low thekeyboard. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the complete instrument fromfront to back and taken at a point to the right of the pedals in Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of a portion of the rear of theinstrument, the sounding-board and stringframe with their attached partsbeing in sec- Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the sounding-board andits mountings, together with the string-supporting frame and theadjacent portions of the sides of the casing. Fig. 6 is a detailtransverse section of the keyboard-frame and keyboard-cover, showing thearrangement of a key and the loca tion of the tension devices. view ofFig. 6. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the string-supporting frame. Fig.9 is a vertical section of a piano, taken directly in front of thestrings and showing in elevation the string-supporting frame and thestrings thereon. Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the piano, showing thebattons upon the rear of the sounding-board and the locationandarrangement of the clamping-strips which hold the latter against thestring-frame. Fig. 1l is an elevation showing the foot-rest support andits attaching-bracket. Fig. 12 is a central vertical section of Fig. 11.spective view showing a rigid foot-rest support.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l, 2, 3,4e, and 5, the casing of the piano consists of a body 15, to the ends ofwhich and at the under sides are iXed metallic plates 16, extendingbeyond the bottom to lie upon the lower ends of the side pieces 17 and18 of the frame. These side pieces are continued upwardly to the usualheight, and the front upper corners are cut away, as shown at 19, for apurpose to be presently explained.

Slidably connected with the side pieces 17` and 18 are bottom sills 2Othrough the medium of dovetail joints 2l, and which sills extendforwardly beyond the VFront edges of the sides Fig. 7 is a plan Fig. 13is a per-Y IOO and receive upon their upper surfaces the pillars orsupports 22, which act to support the keyboard-frame. Thiskeyboard-frame is iixed to sills 23, slidably connected with the sidesthrough the medium of dovetailed joints 24 and are held againstaccidental displacement by means of screws 25, as shown. These sills, asalso the sills 29, extend throughout the inner faces of the sides, andthe sills 23 project over and beyond the formtrdly-pro* truding portionsof the sills 2O and have fixed thereto the usual keyboard-boxin g,includingr a bottom 2G and front 27. A third set of transverse sills 2Shave a dovetailed connection with the sides and are disposed upon theinner faces thereof just below the lower ends of the cut-away portions19, the effect of these sills in their dovetailed connections and intheir extensions entirely across the inner faces of the sides being toeffectively prevent warping of the sides and consequent displace ment ofthe keyboard-frame with the wellknown objectionable results.

Upon the upper horizontal ends of the sides is fixed a top 29, whichextends forwardly to the cut-away portion 19 and has hinged toitsforward edge a lid 39, adapted to lie upon the side pieces at theircutaway portions and also to rest upon a transverse angle-iron 3l, theends of which are let into slots in the sides of the casing, one memberof the angleiron lying iiush with the cut-away portions. The front edgeof the hinged lid 30 is provided with an upwardly-directed rib or bead32, extending throughout its length and which acts to prevent music fromsliding from the lid, and thus to enable the music to be used to beplaced upon the lid in a position to be readily accessible to theperformer and also where it may be readily inspected to permitselection. l/Vhen desired, the lid may be supported in a raised positionby means of props 33, one of which is pivoted upon the inner face ofeach side 17 and 18 in a position to be rotated to project beyond thecut-away portion and having felts 34 at their outer ends for directcontact with the lid. lVhen in their inoperative positions,thesc propsrest against stop-pins 35.

Upon the sills 23 and projecting slightly inwardly beyond the frontedges of the sides 17 and 1S is fixed a transverse board 3G, to which ishinged a fall-board orlid 37, adapted to lie upon the upper edges of thesills and to extend slightly beyond their outer ends, this lid having asupplemental closure 38 hinged thereto and which is adapted to close thefront end of the keyboard-boxing and to rest upon the upper surface ofthe front piece 27 of the latter. lVhen this fall-board or lid 37 israised, it may rest against the front edges of the sides or it may restagainst the front face of the swinging front board 39,' which latter ispivotally connected at its ends adjacent the upper side to the sides 17and 18 and between them, this front board being adapted to swing and tobe moved to lie either in front or be* hind the lid 37 when the latterisin its raised position. This front 39 has a musicsupport ing strip orrest lO adjacent its lower edge` and upon which the music to be playedmay be placed when the lid 37 is disposed behind the front. When the lidis raised to lie against the front, the music is disposed against theunder surface of thelid, with its lower edge resting against a boardatl, attached transversely of and intermediate the sills 23 and in aplane below the board 36, with which it is connected by means of a stript2. This board #il has a bead 43 at its outer edge to prevent the musicsliding therefrom.

The front of the piano-casing below the keyboard comprises avertically-swinging door 45, pivoted at its lower edge to a cross-piece46. This door is adapted to be opened and closed by means of a pedal 47,pivotally mounted in the casing and extending outwardly through anopening in a plate 4 S upon the front thereof, this pedal having angularform and being connected at its upper end with the door through themedium of a link 49. A return-spring 59 is connected with the pedal andthe bottoni of the casing and holds the pedal normallyin a positionV toclose the door. In order to hold this pedal in a position with the dooropen, said pedal is provided with a knife-edge 50, adapted to engage theteeth of a rack 5l, forming one side of the opening in the plate 48,through which the pedal is passed. The pedal has more or less lateralmovement at its outer end, and thus may be moved downwardly and pressedlaterally to engage the knife-edge with the rack. In addition to thepedal l7 are employed the usual soft and loud pedals 52 and 53 and whichhave the usual connections with a comnnen :form of damper mechanism.lVithin the keyboard-boxing is arranged a series of keys comprisingwhite keys 55 and black keys 50, the inner ends of the black keys beingsloped, as shown at 57, to facilitate the sliding of the lingers of theoperator from one set of keys to the other. These keys are cach providedwith a slot for the reception of a pin 58 and rest directly upon washers59, disposed upon the pins, said pins and washers being carried by ametallic bar GO, fastened to the bottom 29 and secured at its ends tothe sills 23. This bar being of metal, it is not suscep tible towarping, and the keys are thus held at all times in their properposition.

The keys 5G form elements of any desired construction of piano-action,and beneath their ends are arranged stop-pads Gl, carried by blocks 02.Each key, at the inner end thereof and upon its upper surface, isprovided with a pad or cushion (33, adapted to engage spring-fingers(il, carried by a plate or board (55, hinged to the inner edge of theboard Lil. These fingers U-l equal in number the keys, and the outer ort'ree end of each linger is disposed above the cushion or pad of itsrespective key. These fingers are IOO IIC

adapted to be raised and lowered to release or lie upon the keys, andthus resist the operation of the latter to increase thetensiou of thekeys and form a means for exercising the iingers of the student and tocounteract the effect of excessive strength of touch of the musician. Inorder to move the spring-fingers 64 into and out of operative relationto the keys, a pedal 66, pivoted adjacent the pedals 52 and 53 andbetween them, is connected with an arm or plate 67, carried by the plate65, and which connection is made through the medium of a rod 68. Thepedal 66 projects through a slot in the plate 48 and has a knife-edge69, adapted for engagement with a rack 70, forming one side of saidslet. The pedal 66 is adapted for engagement by the foot of the musicianand has sufficient lateral play to permit the engagement anddisengagement of the knife-edge 69 with the rack 70. With thisconstruction it will be seen that not only may the usual dampers beoperated to vary the loudness of the instrument, but that the front ofthe piano-casing may be opened with the foot andthat the tension of thekeys may be varied in the same manner when desired.

Referring new to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 11, and 12, in order to provide afoot-rest for the feet of a child and to permit the adjustment of thisrest for different conditions, a bracket 71 is fixed to the under sideof the bottom of the keyboard-boxing and at each end thereof, and eachof which brackets comprises an ear 72, having a stud 73, provided withthreads for the reception of a clamping-nut 74. In connection with thisbracket is employed a hanger 75, having alongitudinal slot 76,which isdisposed to receive the stud 73, so that the hanger may be clampedagainst the ear 72 by means of the nut 74. A lug 76APL upon the lowerend of the ear 72 is adapted to enter and tit the slot 76 when thehanger is in its vertical position. In the outer surface of each hanger75 and communicating with the slot 76 is formed a plurality of arcshapedrecesses 77, lying upon the opposite sides of the slot 76 and disposedin pairs, the curvilinear outlines of these recesses coinciding withcircles ot' which they are the arcs. In connection with these hangers isemployed a transverse bar 78, having a suitable covering-such as rubber,corduroy, dac-and at the ends of which are secured studs 79, lying inthe slots of their respective hangers. Upon each stud is disposed awasher a, adapted to lie in the elements of any pair of recesses 77, tohold the stud and the rest at a corresponding elevation, the washersbeing held in this position by means ot clamping nuts 81. When it isdesired to throw the foot-rest out of its operative position, the nuts74 are loosened and the upper ends of the hangers are moved fromengagement with the-lu gs 7 6, after which the foot-rest and hangers areswung outwardly to a horizontal position and are then pushed inwardly,at which time the hangers travel along the upper faces of the said lugsand between them and the studs 73 and enter suitable openings in thefront of the piano-casing, these openings being normally closed by meansof doors 82.

It is sometimes desired to permit a child to operate the pedals 52 and53, and to enable this there are provided pedal attachments consistingof plates 83, comprising each two elements lying at right angles to eachother, the end of one element being formed into a clip 84, which titsover the foot-rest and may have pivotal movement with respect thereto,the other element having a clip 85 at its end, which clamps said elementto the end of its respective pedal. The elements connected with thefoot-rest lie substantially horizontal and are in a position to beengaged by the feet of a child with the usual' result.

In Fig. 13 ot the drawings is shown a moditication of hanger having thebracket formed integral therewith and having slots 86 there in adaptedto receive screws S7 in the under side of the bottom 26 of thekeyboard-boxing, this construction permitting the ready engagement anddisengagement of the bracket with the screws to permit adjustment of thefoot-rest inwardly and outwardly. Similar slots are formed in thebrackets 7l for a like purpose.

The Stringing of the piano is carried by a frame 90, which isrectangular in outline and comprises a tcp 91, a bettom 92, and sides 93and 94. Upon reference to Figs. S and 9 it will be seen thattransversely of the upper portion of the frame are formed two bridges 95and 96, disposed slantingly and parallel, the wrest-plate bridge 96being somewhat longer than the bridge 95 and likewise lower, the upperend of the bridge 96 lying somewhat higher on the frame than lower endof the bridge 95. Between the bridge 95 and the upper side 19 of theframe is a recess in the form of a truncated triangle and which recessis shown at 97. A similar and larger recess 98 lies intermediate thewrest-plate bridge 96 and the upper side of the frame, the wrestplatebridge 96 being known as the upper treble-bridge and the wrest-platcbridge 95 as the tippe1"bass-bridge. A hitch-pin plate 115 extends in acompound curve from the lower corner of the frame adjacent the side 94to a point substantially midway of the ends of the side 93, the lowerend of this plate being curved downwardly and the upper end curvedupwardly. A brace 99 extends from the lower end of the hitch-pin plateto a point substantiallyintermediate the bridges 95 and 96, a secondbrace 100 crossing the brace 99 and extending from the upper end of thebridge 95 to a point about one-fourth the distance from the side 94 tothe side 93 of the frame and upon the bottom 92. A third brace 101extends substantially parallel with the last-named brace from a IOS IIO

i maire point adjacent the lower end of the side 93 and upon the bottom92 across the upper surface of the hitch-pin plate and thence upwardlyto the bridge 96. In the upper edge of the wrest-plate bridge 95 isformed a channel 102, in which is seated a tuning-pin board 103, asecond tuning-pin board 104 being disposed in a channel 105 in the upperedge of the bridge 90, these boards being separated by the cross-piece107, connecting the plate upon which the bridges 95 and 90'are formedwith the upper end 91 of the frame. This plate 100, upon which thebridges are formed, is provided with a downwardly-extending flange 108,and which flange is continued around the sides 93 and 94 and along thebottom 92. Against these iianges orcontinuous flange is disposed awooden frame 109, it being understood that the frame comprising thesides 93 and 9-1 is of iron or other suitable metal. Against the frame109 is disposed a sounding-board 110, having the usual battens 111 toprevent warping, a second frame 112, of wood, being disposed upon therear surface of the sounding-board. Bolts 113 are passed through theframes 109 and 112, the sounding-board 110, and the flange 108, and thusact to clamp the parts securely together. A treble sound-board bridge114 is disposed above the hitch-pin plate 115 and conforms to thecurvature of the upper edge thereof and has the usual guide-pins 110.Tuningpins 117 are inserted in the block 104 in accordance with anydesired system of Stringing, and to them are connected strings 118,extending to hitch-pins 119 upon the hitchpin plate. Grooves 120 areformed in the wrest-plate bridge 90 to receive the strings 118 and aregrouped to conform to the system of Stringing. In order to preventslipping of the strings through the grooves 120, a clamping-plate 121 isarranged above the bridge and has perforations therein for the receptionof threaded studs 122, adapted to receive clamping-nuts 123, through themedium of which the plate is clamped upon the wires to hold them againstthe bridge. The lower or bass sound-board bridge 125 is disposed belowthe hitch-pin plate 115 and has guidepins 126 thereon, with which areengaged the overstrings 127. These strings pass through grooves 12S inthe wrest-plate bridge 95 and are attached to tuning-pins 129 in thepinbloel: 103, the opposite ends of the strings being engaged withhitch-pins 130, engaging perforations in the lower side 92 of thestring'- supporting frame and intermediate the braces 100 and 101, thebrace 100 lying substantially parallel with the overstringing. Aclampplate 131, corresponding to the plate 121, is correspondinglyTarranged with respect to the bridge 95 to clamp the, overstringsthereagainst and prevent slipping.

From the above it will be seen that the string-supporting frame is sobraced as to effectively resist the strain upon the strings, while atthe same time the usual braces between the lower strings and the upperstrings are omitted, giving ready access to the strings and permitting agreater percentage of the entire Stringing to be included in the over-Stringing.

In placing the stringsupporting frame, with the sounding-board and otherconnected parts, into the piano-easiug said frameis disposed in verticalslots 135, formed in the sills 20, 23, and 28, and the bottom walls ofwhich slots lie flush with the inner faces of the sides of thepiano-casing. Intermediate the stringsupporting frame and the frontsides of these slots are uprights 136, having metallic facings 137,which directly engage said front walls, and against the rear faces ofsaid uprights the string-supporting frame lies. rFhe rear walls of theseslots are sloped inwardly and downwardly, as shown at 138, andintermediate said rear walls and the rear side of the string-supportingframe are disposed additional uprights 139, havin g metallic facin gs attheir rear surfaces. The uprights 130 and 139 are clamped upon thestring-support` ing frame through the medium of bolts 141, the entirestructure being forced and held against the front walls of the slots 135through the medium of wedges 142, disposed between the facing plates 140and the inclined rear walls 142 of the slots. lVith this structure itwill be readily seen that the employment of the wedges 142 permits thestringsupporiing frame and sounding-board being held firmly in place,and at the same time said wedges may be readily removed to permitwithdrawal of the sounding-board and stringsupporting frame,facilitating both the building of the piano and the repairing of it.

As shown in Figs. G and 7 of the drawings, a spring 145 is arranged tonormally hold the spring fingers from engagement with the keys.

It will of course be understood that in praetiee any specific system ofStringing may be employed and that the proportions and materials of thevarious parts, as also their specie structure, may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will be noted upon reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings thatthe pin-blocks are slanted rearwardly and. that the locations of thepins in the pin-blocks are such that the wires pass outwardly to thebridges and then downwardly, so that the desired downward pull acrossthe bridge is secured andthe usual wedge-blocks are not necessary.

What I claim is- 1. A piano-easing comprisinga bottom and sides, abottom sill let into the surface of each side and extending forwardlybeyond the side, a keyboard-sill let into the surface of each side andextending beyond the front edge of the side, and a top sill let into thesurface of each side, said sills extending entirely across theirrespective sides.

2. A piano-casing comprising a bottom and sides, and top, bottom, andkeyboard sills IOO IIO

having dovetail connections with each side and extending entirely acrosstheir respective sides.

3. A p'ano-casing comprising a bottom and sides, the upper front cornersof the sides being out away, a top fixed to the upper ends of the sides,and a lid hinged to said top and adapted to rest upon the cut-awayportions and having a bead at its front edge.

4. A piano-casing comprising a bottom and sides, the upper front cornersof the sides being cutaway, a top fixed to the upper ends of the sides,a lidhinged to the top and having a bead at its front edge, said lidbeing adapted to lie upon the edges of the cut-away portions, and asupport adapted to hold the lid above said edges.

5. A piano-casing comprising a bottom and sides, a keyboard-boxingcomprising a musicrest, a lid for the boxing adapted to coperate withsaid rest to support the music, and a swinging front pivotally connectedwith the sides and havinga music-supportin g bead at its lower edge,said front being adapted to lie at either side of the said lid.

G. A piano-casing comprising a swinging door, a pedal pivoted in thecasing and projecting therefrom, a link pivoted to the door and to thepedal, a spring connected with the pedal and the casing and adapted tohold the door normally closed, and a rack adapted for engagement by thepedal to hold the door against the tendency of the spring.

7. The combination with a piano and the keyboard thereof, of bracketsconnected to the keyboard and comprising each a central threaded studand a lug, slotted hangers slidably mounted upon the studs and adaptedto receive the lugs in their slots to hold the hangers against pivotalmovement, and a footL rest adjustably connected with the hangers.

S. In a piano,the combination with the keyboard-boxing, of brackets-connected therewith, hangers pivotally and slidably connected with thebrackets, recessesin the hangers, and a foot-rest slidably engaged withthe hangers and having nuts adapted to enter the recesses thereof tohold the foot-rest at difter- -ent points of its slidable movements.

9. The combination with a piano having openings below the keyboard, andthe sills thereof, of screws engaging the sills, brackets having slotsadapted to interchangeably receive the screws, whereby the brackets maybe adj usted with respect to the keyboardsills, and hangers pivotallyand slidablyconnected with the brackets and adapted to enter the saidopenings of the piano.

10. In a piano, the combination with the pedals and a foot-rest, ofsupplemental pedals connected with the first-named pedals and foot-restand comprising tread portions lying above the planes of their respectivepedals and pivotally connected with the pedals.

l1. In a piano, the combination with the pedals, of supplemental pedalscomprising clips engaging the pedals and tread portions pivoted withrespect to the piano and lying in planes above their respective pedals.

12. The combination with a piano and the keyboard-sills,of bracketssecured to the sills, han gers pivotally and slidably connected with thebrackets, a foot-rest adj ustably connected with the hangers, pedals,and supplemental pedals connected with the main pedals and with thefoot-rest.

13. In a piano, the combination with the keyboard-sills, of screws inthe under side thereof, brackets having slots adapted to interchangeablyreceive the screws to adjust the brackets along the sills, hangerspivotall y connected with the brackets, and a foot-rest adj ustablyconnected with the hangers.

14. In a piano, the combination with the keys, of a board hingedadjacent thereto, spring-fingers iixed to the board and adapted forengagement with the keys, means for holding the iingers normally out ofengagement with the keys, a pedal connected with the board and adaptedto move the fingers into and out of engagement with the keys, and a rackadapted for engagement by the pedal to hold the fingers in apredetermined position.

15. In a piano, the combination with the sides thereof having sillsprovided with alining slots, of a string-supporting frame disposed insaid slots, and means for holding said frame against displacement.

16. In a piano, the combination'with the sides having sills providedwith alining slots, of uprights within thel slots, a string-sup'-porting frame intermediate the uprights of each series ot' slot-s, meansfor clamping the uprights to the frame, and means for holding theuprights and frame against displacement in the slots.

17. The combination with a piano-casing comprising sides havingtransverse sills provided with alining slots, one side of each slotlying at an angle to the opposite side, of a string-supporting framedisposed in said slots, and a wedge in each slot intermediate awall ofthe slot and the string-supporting frame, and adapted to hold the latteragainst displacement.

18. The combination with a piano-casing comprising sides having sillsprovided with slots, the slots at each side being alined vertically, andone side of each slot being slanted in the direction of the oppositeside, of a stringsupporting frame disposed in said slots, and a wedgedriven intermediate the slanting side of each slot and thestring-supporting frame.

19. A string-supporting frame comprising a treble wrest-plate bridge, atreble hitch-pin plate at an angle to said bridgea brace connectin g theremote end of the hitch-'pin plate with the bridge, pin-block openingshaving a separating-web in line with said brace, a bass hitch-pin plateat the opposite side of the treble hitch-pin plate from the bassWrestplate bridge, and a brace crossing the firstnamed brace connectingthe outer ends of the IOO IIO

bass wrest-plate bridge andthe bass hitch-pin plate.

20. The Combination with a string-supporting frame having its upperportion bent rearwardly and provided with pin-block openings having aseparatingweb, of bass and treble Wrest-plate bridges, each lying at anangle to the upper side of the frame and separated therefrom by thepin-block openings, said bridges having grooves in their upper edges,pin-blocks Within the openings and lying upon the rear face of theframe, a treble hitelrpin plate a brace extending from one end of saidhitch-pin plate to the web between the pinbloelc openings, a basshiteh-pin plate, a brace

